Case 39 (2009)
Some cases should never be opened.
Keywords
Case 39 rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic
IMDb6.2/10· 99K votes
Rotten Tomatoes22%
Metacritic25%
TMDb6.319/10· 2K votesWith 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 6.2/10 on IMDb and 25/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been modest.
About Case 39
In her many years as a social worker, Emily Jenkins believes she has seen it all, until she meets 10-year-old Lilith and the girl's cruel parents. Emily's worst fears are confirmed when the parents try to harm the child, and so Emily assumes custody of Lilith while she looks for a foster family. However, Emily soon finds that dark forces surround the seemingly innocent girl, and the more she tries to protect Lilith, the more horrors she encounters.
Cast of Case 39
Renée Zellweger
as Emily Jenkins
Jodelle Ferland
as Lillith Sullivan
Ian McShane
as Detective Mike Barron
Bradley Cooper
as Douglas J. Ames
Adrian Lester
as Wayne
Kerry O'Malley
as Margaret Sullivan
Callum Keith Rennie
as Edward Sullivan
Cynthia Stevenson
as Nancy
Alexander Conti
as Diego
- P
Philip Cabrita
as Javier
Vanesa Tomasino
as Javier's Wife
Mary Black
as Custody Judge
Case 39 facts
- Budget
- $27M
- Box office
- $29M
Ranked by the iRankMovies editorial teamUpdated August 2026MethodologyData sources
Audience opinions
What the audience liked
- •Evil child archetype creates unsettling horror dynamics
- •Detective investigation grounds supernatural premise effectively
- •Psychological thriller elements build creeping dread successfully
What the audience disliked
- •Slow-burn pacing tests patience through exposition-heavy scenes
- •Familiar horror tropes offer minimal originality or surprise
Trailer
Where to watch Case 39(US)
View on JustWatch →Rent / Buy
Amazon Video
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YouTube
Fandango At HomeAvailability may change. Data by JustWatch.
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